Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 632,5l5. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

v F. M. BDMSTUCK. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1898 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Tn: News PETERS co, woroumou WASHINGTON, n c

Patented Sept. 5, I899.

F. M. COMSTOQK. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

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No. 632,5l5. Patnted Sept. 5, I899.

- F. m. COMSTDCK.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I I I I I W in ii I me man s PETERS co. mmcrmuau WASHINGTON, u, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

FRANCIS M. COMSTOCK, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO J. B. LARIMER, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 632,515, dated September 5, 1899. Application filed September 13, 1898. Serial No. 690,833. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M COMSTOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Topeka, Shawnee county, Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to acetylene-gas generators; and my object is to produce a genro erator of this character whereby the amount or volume of gas generated is fixed and determined and cannot exceed the capacity of the holder, to the end that from its manipulation and use the element of danger shall be entirely eliminated and the gas be produced at a minimum cost.

With this general object in view and others which will hereinafter appear the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in appended claims, and in order that the invention may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 designates a front elevation of an acetylene-gas generator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a central vertical section of the same as viewed from the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a central elevation of the same, showing the gas-bell and other parts in the position they occupy when the gasometer is filled with gas. Fig. 4: is a top plan view of the generator with certain parts 3 5 omitted. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line V V of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the rotary carbid-holder. Fig. 7 is a vertical section, full size, of the automatic water-measure.

All acetylene-gas generators with which I am familiar manufacture an indefinite quantity of gas, andif such quantity or volume exceeds the capacity of the gasometer the surplus must escape or an explosion will follow.

5 To eliminate this objectionable feature is the primary object of my invention, as outlined in the statement of invention, and as the most practical and economical method of accomplishing this purpose I have provided 0 a generator embodying a removable cap wherein a predetermined quantity of carbid is stored and an automaticallymeasured quantity of water is introduced when it is desired to produce gas therein.

The invention also embodies a gasometer to receive the gas from the generating-cup, said gasometer being adapted to contain a little more gas than this mixture of carbid and water is capable of producing, to the end that provision for contingencies, such as a difference in the quality of the carbid, whereby more gas is produced, may be made.

The invention, furthermore, contemplates the use of a plurality of these cups arranged to be intermittently rotated and successively put into communication with the water-measure and the gasometer.

It further contemplates the use of mechanism whereby a variable volume of gas may be generated by simply varying the quantity of carbid placed in the cups.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates, preferably, a cylindrical tank which is divided by the horizontal partitions 2 3 into an upper chamber 4;, a shallow intermediate chamber 5, and alower chamber 6, though the latter may be dispensed with, if desired, and said chambers at and 6 communicate with each other by Way of the tube 7, extending vertically up through but not communicating with chamber 5, though at a point between partitions 2 and 3 it is provided with an opening 8 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. 9 designates a cylindrical shell encircling said tank and flared at its upper end, as shown at 10, and 11 designates a short tube which connects chamber 5 with the chamber formed by and between the tank a and shell 9 (see Fig. 2) in order that the water with which saidshell-chamber is filled may have free access to the chamber 5, and thereby serve to cool the gas as well as to prevent its escape, the flaring mouth 10 hereinbefore referred to being simply designed to increase the capacity of the shell-chamber and eliminate chances of an overflow. 12 designates a gas-bell which is of the customary form-that is, has its upper end closed and its lower end open and fits down in said shellchamber, its lower end being always submerged in the water therein to prevent the escape of the gas. In practice this gasometer should be of suitable weight in order to reliably operate certain parts, to be hereinafter described, by its gravitative action. In order to eliminate chances of gas escaping and an explosion, the gas-bell is constructed with an inner and an outer shell separated by an air-space. Consequently if the latter be punctured the gas cannot thereby escape.

14 designates a vertical guide-bar which is mounted rigidly upon the apex or center of the gasometer, and 15 an arm projecting laterally therefrom, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

16 designates a pair of water tanks or receptacles secured to or formed with the shell at its upper end and front side, and 17 a pipe connecting, and 1S lids or covers for, the receptacles.

19 designates handles, of the type shown or any other preferred type, for convenience in handling the generator.

A skeleton frame is constructed as follows:

20 designates a pair of vertical pipes arranged at the front side of the generator between the water receptacles and secured, preferably, to the former by means of clips 21. Said pipes are coupled at their lower ends, as shown at 22, and at their upper ends by a pipe 23, and 24 designates a short lateral eX tension of the latter, carrying a T-coupling 25. A horizontal rearwardly-extending pipe 26 is coupled to said T, and a parallel pipe 27 is coupled at its front end to the opposite end of pipe 23 and the adjacent vertical pipe 20, and said pipes 26 and 27 are coupled together by means of the T 28, the elbow 29, and the cross-pipe 30. This construction insures a light yet strong and rigid frame.

31 designates a sleeve bracket mounted upon pipe 30 and provided with a pair of parallel arms 32, embracing the front and rear sides of guide-bar 14 of the gas-bell to prevent any frontand rear oscillatory movement of the latter as it rises, or descends, and to prevent lateralmovement antifriction-rollers 33 are journaled between said arms and bear against the opposing edge of said bar. 34 designates a shaft journaled in the pipe 26 and projecting beyond the Ts 25 28, and secured upon the rear end of said shaft is an arm 35, provided with alongitudinally-slotted rearwardly-projecting flange 36 and with lugs 37 at the rear edge of said flange, antifrictionrollers38 being journaled between said lugs and arms at the upper and lower ends of said slot for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

39 designates a horizontal bar bolted, as at 40, or otherwise secured to the pipes or standards 20 below the shell 9, and projecting forward from and formed integral with the same by preferenceis a hollow stub-shaft 40, terminating in a closed and externally-flanged outer end 41 and provided near its outer end and vertically below its center with an aperture 42. It is also provided with an angle arm 43, preferably bolted to and depending chamber registering with the opening 8 of the tube 7 hereinbefore referred to in order that the gas generated and discharged into the outer end of the spiral chamber shall finally escape into the gas-bell via tube 7.

49 designates the sleeve or hub of what I prefer to term my rotary carbid-holder, this sleeve or hub being journaled upon the stub-shaft and provided at its rear end with a disk or wheel 50, formed with a marginal flange 51 and at certain intervals with notches 52, these notches being of greater depth than and extending also through said flange. This ratchet-wheel, as it practically is, revolves between the packing-ring 46 at its rear end and the packing-ring 53 at its front end, the latter being secured in place by means of the hand-nut 54, screwed upon the stub-shaft. A lock-nut 55 'is also employed to hold the hand-nut reliably in position.

56 designates a series of radial pipes which extend through and are carried by the hub 49 and adapted successively to be placed below and in communication with the opening 42 of the stub-shaft. (See Fig. 6.) These pipes correspond in number to the notches of the ratchet-wheel and are provided with valves 57, having pins 58 projecting from their shanks, and with cups 59 at their outer ends, said cups being preferably of conical form and mounted upon the pipes so that the latter shall project within the former some distance, as shown clearly in Fig. 6. The cups are provided with an internally-perforated partition 59, none of the perforations, however, being arranged opposite the open end of the pipe for a purpose which will be hereinafter eX- plained. The cups are closed, preferably, by means of screw-caps 61, provided with handles 62 for convenience of manipulation, and a packing-ring 63 is employed to render the cup gas and water tight. Within each of said cups and upon the perforated partition is contained a predetermined quantity of carbid,

(not shown,) which, it will thus be seen, is contained in independent air-tight cups, which prevent air-slacking, and any of which may be used at any time without reference to the length of time the carbid has been in the cup. When all the cups have been charged, as described, the valves are closed, as shown in the upper part of Fig. 6, and said valves are opened as their pins 58 successively engage the pendent arm 43 of the stub-shaft, as also shown in Fig. 6, this operation taking place as the pipe 56 of a particular valve assumes a position vertically below the center of the stub-shaft and registers with the opening 42 of the latter.

IIO

To prevent accidental rotation of the rotary carbid-holder, I preferably employ a pivoted pawl 64, held to its work with a yielding pressure by means of the spring 65 bearing at its opposite ends against one of the pipes 20 of the skeleton frame hereinbefore described and said pawl, and 66 designates an arm of said pawl which extends across the rear face of the ratchet-wheel and is provided with a head 67, hearing against the flange of the wheel and overlapping one of the notches thereof.

68 designates a yoke pivoted upon the stubshaft between the collar 44 thereof and the arm 66, and said yoke is provided with a radial arm terminating in a guide-loop 69, em-

bracing the opposite side ofthe wheel. (See Fig. 5.) The dog 7 O is pivoted to and within said loop, as at 71, and is provided with an arm 72, pivotally connected by a pitman 73 with the outer end of a lever 74, secured rigidly upon the front end of shaft 34, the arrangement being such that at the beginning of the stroke of lever 74 the dog 70 swings upon its pivot 71 and, entering a notch of the ratchet-wheel, engages the arm 66 and forces the spring-actuated pawl 64 out of engagement with the notch at the opposite side of the wheel. At the instant this is accomplished the pivotal movement of the dog is ended and the continued operation of the lever causes the ratchet-wheel to turn one step or until the pawl engages the succeeding notch and limits such rotary movement, as will be readily understood.

75 designates a cylinder or water-measure cup connected at its upper end by a valvecasing 76 with the water-receptacle 16, the passage of said casing being controlled by means of the valve 77. The cup is provided at its lower end with a valve-casing 7 8, containing a valve 79, and the latter is connected to the upper end of'a pipe 80, which communicates at its opposite end with the interior of the stub-shaft 40, (see Fig. 6,) said pipe being depressed, as at 81, to a point below its point of communication with the stub-shaft in order to provide a Water seal to prevent the escape of gas through said pipe and up through the vent pipe 82, communicating with the cup 75, and provided at its upper end with a petcock 83. In case of excessive pressure the attendant will be notified by means of a slight sputtering of water from said vent-pipe. The valves 77 and 79 are relatively arranged, so that when one is open the other is closed, and to insure their synchronous operation they are provided with parallel arms 84 and 85, respectively, connected by a link 86, and one of said arms, preferably the former, is provided with an extension 87, pivotally linked by apitman 88 with the lever 74 hereinhefore referred to. \Vhen the lever occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, the upper valve is closed and the lower valve is open.

89 designates a vertical pipe which extends from chamber 4 to chamber 6 through pipe 7 and is connected by a pipe 90, which projects through a hermetically-sealed opening in the side of the tank, and is coupled to the lower end of the service-pipe 91, provided with a valve 92 of the usual or any preferred construction, and secured to the generator by means of the clips 93 or in any other suitable manner. The tank is provided at its lower end with a drain-cock 94.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Supposing the gasometer to be empty and therefore occupying its depressed position. (See Sheet 1.) In assuming such depressed position the arm 15 in its descent has entered the slotted flange 36 of arm 35 and, pressing down upon the roller 38 at the lower end of said slot, caused the shaft to rotate and, through the instrumentality of parts described, synchronously close and open, respectively, the valves 77 and 7 9 of the watermeasure cup and cause the preliminary operation of dog 7 O, which unseats pawl 64, as described, and then rotates the ratchet-wheel until the pipe 56 of the next cupregisters with the opening 42 of the stub-shaft, the arm 43 of said shaft at the same instant opening the valve of said pipe and permitting the charge of water from the water-measure cup to enter the stub-shaft and flow down into the carbidcup. As the water enters said cup it strikes thenon-perforated center of partition and, flowing radially therefrom, obtains access to the carbid within the cup through said perforations and instantly gas is generated, which rises through said perforations and said pipe v to the stub-shaft and thence passes through pipe 47, spiral chamber 48, and tube 7 into chambers 4 and 6 of the tank, and the gas-bell under the pressure thus generated ascends, and in such ascending movement the arm 15 reenters the slot of arm 35 from below (see Figs. 1 and 2) and rotates the shaft 34 back to its original position, this back rotation of the shaft of course repositioning the dog and closing valve 79 and opening valve 77 to permit a second measure of water to enter the cup 75. This operation occurs at the beginning of the ascent of the gas-bell, so that in case the minimum volume of gas is to be generated the watermeasure and carbidholder shall be reliably operated. In case any volume of gas in excess'of the minimum quantity is to be generated the gas-bell continues to ascend without further operation of the parts, as it is free after positioning the arm, as shown in Fig. 3, to rise until limited by contact with the guide-bracket 33 or an equivalent stop. As the gas is used the gasometer gradually descends, and before the volume of gas is entirely exhausted it reaches its most depressed position (see Fig. 2) and has again operated the carbid-holder and the water-measure valves, and such operations are followed by the reascent of the gas-bell,

as will be readily understood. All succeeding operations are repetitions of those described.

From the above description it will be seen that the generation of gas at any time is dependent upon the exhaustion of practically the entire quantity previously generated and that as this operation is entirely automatic there can be no possible danger in the use of this machine. In case the carbid used at any time should be of better quality and therefore produce more gas the fact that the gasometer is proportioned to contain more gas than isgenerated with a fixed quantity of carbid and water eliminates danger on this score.

By reason of the fact that the pipes 56 project into the cups some distance, as hereinbefore explained, any water remaining in the cups will not flow down into the pipes 56 as the cups are rotated. WVhen a cup reaches a position vertically over its axis of motion, the

water flowing down through the perforated partition 60 will collect around the pipe (see Fig. 6) and in reaching such position cannot enter the pipe because the partition, as hereinbefore stated, is non-perforated opposite the mouth of the pipe.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced an acetylene-gas generator which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of invention and that I have produced a machine of simple, strong, durable, and in-' expensive construction.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

- a rotary carbid-holder j ournaled on said shaft and consisting of a series of independent carbid-cups, one of' which is in communication with said hollow shaft, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasometer, a water-supply, a hollow shaft having an opening and in communication with the gasometer, a valved connection between the water-supply and the hollow shaft, a rotary carbid-holder journaled on said shaft consisting of aseries of independent carbid-cups, each provided with a valve-controlled stem carried by the hollow shaft, and an arm projecting from said shaft and adapted to open each valve as its stem successively registers with the opening of said shaft, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasometer, a hollow shaft, communicating with the gasometer and having an opening in its under side, and a rotary carbid-holder journaled thereon, consisting of a hub, radial tubular stems radiating from said hub and adapted tosuccessively register with the openings of the shaft, and a carbid-cup mounted upon the outer end of each stem, and means to introduce water into said shaft and the stem in communication therewith, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator, a rotating carbid-holder consisting of a series of carbidcups provided with perforated partitions'and removable caps, and a corresponding series of tubular stems which serve as an inlet for water to and an exitfor gas from said cups,said stems projecting into the cups at the side of said partitions opposite said caps, and opposite non-perforate portions of said partitions, substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, acarbid holder, consisting of a series of independent carbid-cups of conical form, said cups having openings at their apices and provided with internal perforated partitions having non-perforated surfaces opposite said openings, removable caps for said carbid-cups, and a tubular stem for each cup, said stem projecting some distance into the cup through the opening at its apex, substantially as described.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasometer, a bar carried by the gas-bell, and provided with an arm, a water-supply, a carbidholder, a valved connection between the watersupply and the holder, a rock-shaft connected to operate the valve of said connection, and an arm projecting from said shaft and provided with rollers, one of which is engaged by the bar-arm with the'descent of the gasbell and the other by said arm with the ascent of the gas-bell, substantially as described.

8. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasometer, a bar carried by the gas-bell and provided With an arm, a rotary carbid-holder, a rock-shaft connected to rotate said carbidholder, and an arm projecting from said shaft and provided with a pair of rollers adapted to be alternately engaged by the arm of said bar, said bar engaging one roller in the descent of the gas-bell and the other in its ascent, substantially as described.

ICO

9. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasommeasure, a valved connection between the water-supply and the water-measure, a rotary carbid-holder in communication with the gasometer, a valved connection between the water-measure and the carbid-holder, a link connecting the valves of said valved connection, a rock-shaft geared to operate said valves and said rotary carbid-holder, and a slotted arm carried upon said rock-shaft, adapted to be engaged and operated by the arm of said bar with each ascent or descent of the gasbell, substantially as described.

11. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasometer comprising a tank having an opening, a shell surrounding the tank and containing water, a gas-bell having its lower edge submerged in the water of the shell, partitions forming in the' tank a water-chamber supplied with water by the shell through the opening in the tank, an apertured pipe eX tending through the water-chamber, a spiralpassaged chamber submerged in the Waterchamber and communicating at its inner end with said pipe through its aperture, a gassupply pipe communicating with the outer end of said spiral-passaged chamber, and a servicepipe communicating with the gaschamber of the tank, substantially as described.

12. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasometer, a hollow stub-shaft having an opening in its lower side and communicating with the gasometer, a water-supply, a water-sealed pipe for conducting water into the stub-shaft, a rotary carbid-wheel journaled upon said shaft consisting of a hub provided with a ratchet-wheel, hollow pipes extending from said hub, valves controlling said pipes and having pins projecting from their shanks, an arm depending from the stub shaft and adapted to open the valves as the pipes successively register with the opening of the stub-shaft, air-tight carbid-cups mounted upon the ends of said pipes, apawl engaging the ratchet-wheel and provided with an arm, a pivoted yoke, a dog pivoted thereto and provided with an arm, valves controlling the passage of water through said sealed pipe to the stub-shaft, a shaft, a lever thereon con nected to operate said valve and dog, instrumentalities caused by the descent of the gasometer to rock said shaft and thereby pivotally operate said dog and force the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and

FRANCIS M. OOMSTOOK.

YVitn esses:

J. G. W001), J. E. LARIMER. 

